Definition
The phenotype of an organism is the collection of all its observable characteristics, such as morphological traits, physiology, or behavioral properties. The phenotype arises from the interaction of the total genetic inheritance of each organism with the environment where it develops and grows, and might change during its life due to aging processes or environmental changes. In its turn, the phenotype determines how suited an organism is to survive and reproduce in a given environment. In the case of a virus, the phenotype refers mainly to the effects it causes in the infected host. The phenotype of a molecule consists of its structure and chemical function.
Overview
The relationship between genotype and phenotype is essential to understand how biological evolution proceeds. The distinction between the hereditary and developmental pathways as causally separated processes dates back to 1911 (Johannsen 1911): the genome is inherited, while the phenotype is its final...
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References and Further Reading
Dawkins R (1982) The extended phenotype. Oxford University Press, New York
De Witt TJ, Scheiner SM (2004) Phenotypic plasticity. Functional and conceptual approaches. Oxford University Press, New York
Jen E (2005) Robust design. A repertoire of biological, ecological, and engineering case studies. Oxford University Press, New York
Johannsen W (1911) The genotype conception of heredity. Am Nat 45:129–159
Kimura M (1983) The neutral theory of molecular evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Rendel JM (1967) Canalisation and gene control. Logos Press/Academic Press, London/New York
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Manrubia, S. (2014). Phenotype. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1179-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1179-3
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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